BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR A CONVERTER

Abstract

A bearing assembly, in particular for a converter, including a rolling bearing having an outer ring which is arranged in an inner housing, the inner housing being movable with respect to an outer housing in the axial direction of the rolling bearing by means of a two-row linear rolling bearing structure, and the rotational axes of all the rolling elements in each row of the linear rolling bearing structure lying in a common plane, and the two planes being at an oblique angle to one another. At least one anti-rotation element which engages in a mating contour in the outer housing is connected to the inner housing.

Claims

1. A bearing assembly, comprising: a rolling bearing having an outer ring arranged in an inner housing, the inner housing being movable with respect to an outer housing in an axial direction of the rolling bearing by a two-row linear rolling bearing structure having two rows of rolling bodies, and rotational axes of all the rolling bodies in each row of the two-row linear rolling bearing structure lying in a common plane, and the common planes being at an oblique angle to one another, and at least one anti-rotation element engaged in a mating contour in the outer housing is connected to the inner housing.

2. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation element is arranged centrally between the two rows of the linear rolling bearing structure.

3. The bearing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mating contour which interacts with the anti-rotation element comprises sliding plates.

4. The bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein each sliding plate includes a one-sided termination of a plate located in the outer housing, which plate on an other side is supported against a bearing element of the linear rolling bearing structure, the bearing element providing wherein a rolling body raceway of the linear rolling bearing structure.

5. The bearing assembly according to claim 4, wherein each sliding plate borders a basic element of the plate.

6. The bearing assembly according to claim 4, wherein each sliding plate is an integral constituent part of the plate.

7. The bearing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the bearing element of the linear rolling bearing structure is supported on a side facing away from the plate against a contour of the outer housing.

8. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-rotation element comprises a plurality of bolt-like anti-rotation elements.

9. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-rotation element comprises a single, rib-like anti-rotation element.

10. A converter including a bearing assembly according to claim 1.

11. A bearing assembly, comprising: a rolling bearing having an outer ring, an inner housing and an outer housing, the outer ring arranged in the inner housing, and the inner housing movable relative to the outer housing in an axial direction of the rolling bearing; a two-row linear rolling bearing structure supporting the inner housing for linear movement relative to the outer housing, the two-row rolling bearing structure including two rows of rolling bodies, wherein rotational axes of the rolling bodies in each row lie in respective common planes, and the common planes extend at an oblique angle to one another; and at least one anti-rotation element connected to the inner housing and engaged in a mating contour in the outer housing.

12. The bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the anti-rotation element is arranged centrally between the two rows of the linear rolling bearing structure.

13. The bearing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the mating contour which interacts with the anti-rotation element comprises sliding plates.

14. The bearing assembly according to claim 13, wherein each sliding plate includes a one-sided termination of a plate located in the outer housing, which plate on an other side is supported against a bearing element of the linear rolling bearing structure, the bearing element providing a rolling body raceway of the linear rolling bearing structure.

15. The bearing assembly according to claim 14, wherein each sliding plate borders a basic element of the plate.

16. The bearing assembly according to claim 14, wherein each sliding plate is an integral constituent part of the plate.

17. The bearing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bearing element of the linear rolling bearing structure is supported on a side facing away from the plate against a contour of the outer housing.

18. The bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one anti-rotation element comprises a plurality of bolt-like anti-rotation elements.

19. The bearing assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one anti-rotation element comprises a single, rib-like anti-rotation element.

20. A converter including a bearing assembly according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the following, several exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail by means of a drawing. In the drawing:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a bearing assembly of a converter in an end view;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the assembly according to FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an anti-rotation device of the converter bearing assembly according to FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows an alternative design of an anti-rotation device for a bearing, namely floating bearing structure, of a converter in a view according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations relate to both exemplary embodiments. Parts which correspond to each other or which have basically the same effect are identified with the same reference sign in all the figures.

[0027] A bearing assembly identified overall by the reference sign 1 is designed as a floating bearing and is intended for use in a converter, which is not shown in any more detail. With respect to the basic function of the bearing assembly 1, reference is made to the prior art cited at the outset.

[0028] The bearing assembly 1 comprises a multi-part housing 2 with an inner housing 3 and an outer housing 4. A rolling bearing 5 designed as a spherical roller bearing, the rolling bodies of which, i.e. barrel rollers, are denoted by 6, has an inner ring 7 which is fixedly placed on a trunnion 8 of the converter. The central axis of the rolling bearing 5 and thus also of the trunnion 8 is referred to as the tilt axis KA of the bearing assembly 1.

[0029] The outer ring, denoted by 9, of the rolling bearing 5 is rigidly inserted into the inner housing 3, contacting both a lower housing inner part 13 and an upper housing inner part 14. The outer housing 4 is composed of a lower housing outer part 15 and an upper housing outer part 16 in a manner that is basically comparable to the inner housing 3. A horizontal parting plane TE of the inner housing 3 and of the outer housing 4 is level with the tilt axis KA. Deviating from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, designs can also be realized in which a spherical rolling bearing as the rolling bearing 5 is only in a lower part and the upper part is omitted.

[0030] Above the tilt axis KA there is a contact region 10 between the upper housing inner part 14 and the upper housing outer part 16. The contact region 10 has a lubricant channel 11 running through it, via which lubricant can be supplied to the rolling bearing 5. An O-ring seal is installed in the contact region 10, which ensures that grease supplied from the outside does not flow into the gap between the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4, but passes through the bore located in the 12 o'clock position, i.e. the lubricant channel 11, through the inner housing 11 into the rolling bearing 5.

[0031] The inner housing 3 is movable to a limited extent in the outer housing 4 along the tilt axis KA by means of a linear rolling bearing structure 12, so as to provide the desired floating bearing function of the bearing assembly 1. The linear rolling bearing structure 12 is designed as a two-row rolling bearing structure, with two rows 17, 18 of rolling bodies 19, namely rollers, being arranged on the lower edge of the lower housing inner part 13. All central axes of the rolling bodies 19 in the first row 17 lie in a common plane. The same applies to the rolling bodies 19 in the second row 18. Each of the two planes is positioned at a slight oblique angle, which means that an acute angle is formed between the plane in question and the parting plane TE. An obtuse angle is thus formed between the two mentioned planes, which are defined by the position of the rolling bodies 19 and which intersect in a plane which is vertically laid through the tilt axis KA. Overall, a V-shape of the two-row linear rolling bearing structure 12 is provided. This V-shape of the linear rolling bearing structure 12 has a self-centering effect as far as the position of the inner housing 3 relative to the outer housing 4 is concerned.

[0032] Each row 17, 18 of rolling bodies 19 rolls, on the one hand, on a static bearing element 20 which is inserted into the lower housing outer part 15 and, on the other hand, on a movable bearing element 21 which is connected to the lower housing inner part 13. The contact angle at which loads are transmitted between the lower housing parts 13, 15 via the rolling bodies 19 is determined by the shape and position of the various bearing elements 20, 21, each in the form of strips. Cages in which the rolling bodies 19 of the linear rolling bearing structure 12 are guided are denoted by 22.

[0033] The cages 22 are designed in such a way that they are movable in the axial direction of the rolling bodies 19 with respect to the bearing elements 20 with only a small amount of play. This is achieved by overlapping each cage 22 with the associated bearing element 20. This also provides guidance for the rolling bodies 19 in their axial direction on the bearing element 20. It is also possible for the rolling bodies 19 to be guided by rims of the bearing elements 20, 21 of the linear rolling bearing structure 12.

[0034] In order to keep the angular relationship between the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4 constant even in the event of sudden loads on the trunnion 8, regardless of whether and to what extent the inner housing 3 is moved with respect to the outer housing 4, an anti-rotation device 23 is provided. The anti-rotation device 23, which prevents the inner housing 3 from rotating about the tilt axis KA, comprises at least one anti-rotation element 23 which is arranged on the inner housing 3more precisely, on the lower housing inner part 13and which interacts with a mating contour 25 disposed on the side of the outer housing 4.

[0035] In the exemplary embodiments, the mating contour 25 is formed by sliding plates 26 which are disposed in the lower housing outer part 16. Each sliding plate 26 flanking the anti-rotation element 23 can be associated with a plate 28 which is inserted into the lower housing outer part 16 and contacts one of the two static bearing elements 20 on its side facing away from the anti-rotation element 23. The static bearing element 20 in turn is supported on a contour 29 of the outer housing 4, which means that ultimately forces acting in the circumferential direction of the rolling bearing 5 can be transmitted between the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4. At the same time, the rolling body raceways, denoted by 30, of the static bearing elements 20, which are positioned at an oblique angle in a V-shape in the manner described, have a stabilizing effect. As far as the correct rolling of the rolling bodies 19 on the bearing elements 20, 21 over the entire service life is concerned, the precise guidance of the inner housing 3 in the outer housing 4, realized by means of the anti-rotation device 23, ensures constant geometric conditions.

[0036] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, as illustrated in FIG. 3, there are three bolt-like anti-rotation elements 24, which are inserted into the lower housing inner part 13. In this case, each anti-rotation element 24 makes contact with sliding plates 26, which are attached as separate elements to basic elements 27, which can also be associated with the plates 28. Embodiments with only two pin-like anti-rotation elements 24 or with more than three anti-rotation elements 24 are also possible. In all cases, the central axes of the cylindrical anti-rotation elements 24 intersect the tilt axis KA, with the anti-rotation elements 24 also being able to be formed directly by the lower housing inner part 13. In a modified design (not shown), the sliding plates 26 could bear directly against a contour of the lower housing outer part 15, in which case the sliding plates 26 would also be interchangeable. In all cases, the two sliding plates 26 lie in vertical planes which are parallel to one another.

[0037] Deviating from the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 there is a single, strip-like anti-rotation element 24 which in this case shows an integral contour of the lower housing inner part 13. Likewise, the anti-rotation element 24 could also be connected to the lower housing part 13 as a separate element here, in particular inserted in a form-fitting manner into a depression in the lower housing part 13. The sliding plates 26 are formed directly by the plates 28 in the case outlined in FIG. 4. In a modified design, separate sliding plates 26 could also be provided in this case, which are supported on the outside, that is in the tangential direction of the rolling bearing 5, against a plate 28.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0038] 1 Bearing assembly [0039] 2 Housing [0040] 3 Inner housing [0041] 4 Outer housing [0042] 5 Rolling bearing, spherical rolling bearing [0043] 6 Rolling body, barrel roller [0044] 7 Inner ring [0045] 8 Trunnion [0046] 9 Outer ring [0047] 10 Contact region [0048] 11 Lubricant channel [0049] 12 Linear rolling bearing structure [0050] 13 Lower housing inner part [0051] 14 Upper housing inner part [0052] 15 Lower housing outer part [0053] 16 Upper housing outer part [0054] 17 Row [0055] 18 Row [0056] 19 Rolling body [0057] 20 Static bearing element [0058] 21 Movable bearing element [0059] 22 Cage [0060] 23 Anti-rotation device [0061] 24 Anti-rotation element [0062] 25 Mating contour [0063] 26 Sliding plate [0064] 27 Basic element [0065] 28 Plate [0066] 29 Supporting contour of the outer housing [0067] 30 Rolling body raceway [0068] KA Tilt axis [0069] TE Parting plane